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| General election 2017: Darling urges voters to reject indyref2 | General election 2017: Darling urges voters to reject indyref2 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The former head of the Better Together campaign has urged voters to reject the SNP's calls for a second independence referendum. | The former head of the Better Together campaign has urged voters to reject the SNP's calls for a second independence referendum. |
| Alistair Darling, who served as chancellor in Gordon Brown's Labour government, also said it was the only party with a record of cutting poverty. | Alistair Darling, who served as chancellor in Gordon Brown's Labour government, also said it was the only party with a record of cutting poverty. |
| But the SNP said Labour was likely to "disappear into political oblivion" at the election. | But the SNP said Labour was likely to "disappear into political oblivion" at the election. |
| And the Conservatives said a Labour win would cause "chaos" for the UK. | And the Conservatives said a Labour win would cause "chaos" for the UK. |
| Lord Darling has been campaigning in the Edinburgh South seat which was won by Labour's only Scottish MP, Ian Murray, at the last general election in 2015. | |
| The visit came on the 20th anniversary of Labour winning the 1997 election under Tony Blair - and ahead of the forthcoming general election on 8 June. | |
| Lord Darling highlighted Labour's achievements in government, including lifting 120,000 children out of poverty in Scotland, introducing the national minimum wage and introducing tax credits for those on low pay. | |
| He said: "Labour's proud record shows what can be achieved when a government focuses on the day job. | |
| "The priority of a Labour government is always to grow the economy, create jobs, lift people out of poverty and give everybody a fair chance in life, not seeking to divide the country." | "The priority of a Labour government is always to grow the economy, create jobs, lift people out of poverty and give everybody a fair chance in life, not seeking to divide the country." |
| 'Divided enough' | 'Divided enough' |
| Lord Darling also called on voters to back Labour on 8 June in order to "send Nicola Sturgeon a message that Scotland doesn't want or need another divisive referendum". | |
| He added: "The choice in British politics now isn't the old left-right, it is now dividing along nationalistic lines, whether it is Brexit nationalists and Scottish nationalists, against the majority who I believe want to see a sensible outcome." | |
| Lord Darling argued that these people wanted to "look outwards and expand horizons", and to ensure that we "leave a country which future generations will benefit from." | |
| Responding to Lord Darling, an SNP spokesman said: "While the Labour party is expected to almost disappear into political oblivion at the general election, it is only a vote for the SNP that can stop the Tories and ensure Scotland's voice is heard in Westminster. | Responding to Lord Darling, an SNP spokesman said: "While the Labour party is expected to almost disappear into political oblivion at the general election, it is only a vote for the SNP that can stop the Tories and ensure Scotland's voice is heard in Westminster. |
| "Labour should also be concentrating on stopping the Tories - by pandering to the Tories they are letting down voters in this election. | "Labour should also be concentrating on stopping the Tories - by pandering to the Tories they are letting down voters in this election. |
| "The fact they are reduced to parroting Tory slogans and reminiscing about elections 20 years ago shows how utterly irrelevant Labour have become." | "The fact they are reduced to parroting Tory slogans and reminiscing about elections 20 years ago shows how utterly irrelevant Labour have become." |
| The Scottish Conservative candidate for Edinburgh South West, Miles Briggs, said that Labour was hoping to "sell pro-UK Scots down the river" by doing a deal with the SNP after the election. | The Scottish Conservative candidate for Edinburgh South West, Miles Briggs, said that Labour was hoping to "sell pro-UK Scots down the river" by doing a deal with the SNP after the election. |
| Mr Briggs said: "Labour may think wheeling out Alistair Darling will convince voters they are strong on Scotland's place in the union. | Mr Briggs said: "Labour may think wheeling out Alistair Darling will convince voters they are strong on Scotland's place in the union. |
| "But they know Jeremy Corbyn is itching to do a deal with the SNP that would sell pro-UK Scots down the river. | "But they know Jeremy Corbyn is itching to do a deal with the SNP that would sell pro-UK Scots down the river. |
| "Labour would return the UK to chaos, and turn their back on the two million Scots who voted No in 2014. | "Labour would return the UK to chaos, and turn their back on the two million Scots who voted No in 2014. |
| Elsewhere on the election trail, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon campaigned alongside her predecessor, Alex Salmond, in Aberdeenshire, where they highlighted the "stark contrast" between their party's investment in childcare and the prime minister's cuts to child tax credits. | Elsewhere on the election trail, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon campaigned alongside her predecessor, Alex Salmond, in Aberdeenshire, where they highlighted the "stark contrast" between their party's investment in childcare and the prime minister's cuts to child tax credits. |
| 'Obsessive pursuit' | 'Obsessive pursuit' |
| Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson will be at St Abbs lifeboat station in the south east of Scotland, where she will again call on the SNP to forget about an independence referendum and instead focus on the "day job" of running schools and hospitals. | Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson will be at St Abbs lifeboat station in the south east of Scotland, where she will again call on the SNP to forget about an independence referendum and instead focus on the "day job" of running schools and hospitals. |
| And Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie will join some of the party's council election candidates and activists in Perthshire and Bridge of Allan. | And Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie will join some of the party's council election candidates and activists in Perthshire and Bridge of Allan. |
| During the visit, Mr Rennie will highlight the "great work" that Liberal Democrat councillors do to help their local communities. | During the visit, Mr Rennie will highlight the "great work" that Liberal Democrat councillors do to help their local communities. |
| Mr Rennie also accused Ms Sturgeon and the SNP of treating the north east of Scotland as a "cash cow" and of neglecting the area during their "obsessive pursuit of independence". | Mr Rennie also accused Ms Sturgeon and the SNP of treating the north east of Scotland as a "cash cow" and of neglecting the area during their "obsessive pursuit of independence". |
| He added: "This election is a chance to change the direction of our country and put an end to the SNP's obsession with independence. A vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats is a vote for a party that will put local needs first for the whole of Scotland." | He added: "This election is a chance to change the direction of our country and put an end to the SNP's obsession with independence. A vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats is a vote for a party that will put local needs first for the whole of Scotland." |
| Voters will go to the polls in the council election on Thursday. | Voters will go to the polls in the council election on Thursday. |